Sage Sociology Contemporary Sociology - The Struggle for the People's King: How Politics Transforms the Memory of the Civil Rights Movement
Nov 13, 2025
Hajar Yazdiha, an Assistant Professor of Sociology at USC and author of The Struggle for the People's King, dives deep into how political interpretations of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy shape collective memory and democracy. She shares personal insights that inspired her research, including the impact of political rhetoric during various eras. The conversation explores the dangers of memory politics and emphasizes the importance of grassroots narratives and reconciliation efforts in restoring marginalized histories.
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Memory Is A Political Resource
- Collective memory is actively remade and deployed across the political spectrum to serve competing projects.
- Sanitized memories can enable white supremacy and reshape our democratic direction.
Tea Party Sparked The Research
- Yazdiha began researching as a grad student watching the Tea Party's backlash to Obama's presidency.
- She observed King's words being decontextualized to argue against race-conscious policies.
Personal Positionality Shapes The Work
- Yazdiha shares her personal background as a racially ambiguous child of Iranian political refugees.
- She reflects on benefiting from racial obscurity while being shaped by Black radical thought.
